Shirley Edna Telfer
Biography
Lifespan: 1929–2017
Branch: Telfer (by marriage) / Parker (by birth)
Vital Information
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shirley Edna Telfer (née Parker) |
| Born | 28 Mar 1929, South Australia |
| Died | 23 Feb 2017 (age 87), Tumby Bay, South Australia |
| Spouse | Murray John Telfer (1924–2009) (m. 18 Feb 1950, Prospect SA) |
Family
| Relation | Name |
|---|---|
| Father | William Henry Parker (1893–1968) |
| Mother | Caroline Edna Lawrie (1890–1957) |
| Siblings | Avis Parker (1918–2009), Howard Parker (1920–2003), Sydney Hugh Parker (1922–1964), William Humphrey Parker (1926–1976) |
| Spouse | Murray John Telfer (1924–2009) |
| Children | Daryll William Telfer, John Robert Telfer, Grantley Keith Telfer, Timothy Neil Telfer (1959–?), Kathryn Mavis Telfer (1961–1965), Susan Shirley Lawrie (?–living) |
Life Summary
Shirley Edna Telfer (née Parker) was the matriarch of the Telfer family — wife of Murray John Telfer (1924–2009) for over 50 years, and mother of six children. She lived her life on the family farm in the Ungarra/Tumby Bay region of South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.
She was the youngest child of William Henry Parker (1893–1968) and Caroline Edna Lawrie (1890–1957), born at the family farm at Long Plains, South Australia, and married Murray in 1950, uniting the Parker and Telfer families. Her mother, Caroline Edna, was the daughter of Robert Dunlop Lawrie and Caroline Hosking, connecting Shirley to the Lawrie family — Scottish pioneers who emigrated from Ayrshire to South Australia in the 1850s and helped establish the Alma Church of Christ.
Shirley raised her family in a strong Christian home. The Church of Christ was central to the Telfer family's life — Murray served as an elder and secretary at both the Ungarra and Tumby Bay Churches of Christ for decades, and Shirley was a steadfast partner in that faith journey.
She was the grandmother of Mark Kenneth Telfer (1986–?) through her son Timothy Neil Telfer (1959–?).
Shirley passed away peacefully at Tumby Bay Hospital on Thursday, 23 February 2017, aged 87. Her funeral was held at the Church of Christ, Tumby Bay, on Wednesday, 1 March 2017, followed by burial at Tumby Bay Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to the Tumby Bay Hospital Auxiliary.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 28 Mar 1929 | Born to William Henry Parker and Caroline Edna Lawrie |
| 29 Mar 1917 | Parents married at Long Plains, SA |
| 18 Feb 1950 | Married Murray John Telfer (1924–2009) at Prospect, SA |
| ~1950s–80s | Raised six children on the family farm, Ungarra area |
| ~1950s–2000s | Active alongside Murray in the Ungarra and Tumby Bay Churches of Christ |
| 23 Feb 2017 | Passed away peacefully at Tumby Bay Hospital, aged 87 |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Funeral service at Church of Christ, Tumby Bay; buried at Tumby Bay Cemetery |
Newspaper References
- Death Notice — The Courier Mail (and Centralian Advocate), 25 February 2017: "TELFER, Shirley (nee Parker). Passed away peacefully at the Tumby Bay Hospital on Thursday, February 23, 2017. Dearly loved wife of Murray (deceased). Loved mother and mother-in-law to Daryll and Ruth..."
- Funeral Notice — Centralian Advocate, 25 February 2017: Funeral conducted at Church of Christ, Tumby Bay, 1 March 2017 at 11:00am. Cortege proceeded to Tumby Bay Cemetery. Donations to Tumby Bay Hospital Auxiliary.
Family Stories
Shirley Edna Parker married Murray John Telfer, the ninth child of Francis Charles and Amy Telfer. Together they raised three sons — Darryl William, John Robert and Grantley Keith — carrying on the farming tradition of the Telfer family on the Eyre Peninsula. (From the Borders to the Bush, p.175)
Sources
Photos
Tags
Spouse
- Murray John Telfer (1924 – 2009)
Parents
- William Henry Parker (1893 – 1968)
Children
- Daryll William Telfer (? – living)
- Grantley Keith Telfer (? – living)
- John Robert Telfer (? – living)
- Kathryn Mavis Telfer (1961 – 1965)
- Susan Lawrie (? – living)
- Timothy Neil Telfer (1959 – living)
Siblings
- Avis Muriel Nicholls (1918 – 2009)
- Howard Lindsay Parker (1920 – 2003)
- William Humphrey Parker (1926 – 1976)